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Re: 20mph online petition
Seems to have been organised by a group calling themselves Great Resist South Wales. They don't seem to like any sort of control and think climate change isn't man made.Originally posted by Hilts View PostThere was a March in Cardiff today. Apparently 200 turned up.
Really needed it to be in the 1000s.
For some bizarre reason they were outside the museum.
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Re: 20mph online petition
Thirty years ago I was driving towards Blackwood High Street on Bridge street, travelling from the direction of the rugby club. This road is used as a shortcut between Blackwood and Oakdale or Pontllanfraith. This street has cars parked on either side of the street and was a 30mph road.Originally posted by Eric the Half a Bee View PostI'm going to hop onto my soap box here and this is what I think is the crux of the matter.
Roads. What are they there for? In terms of usage, they are used mainly by vehicles; cars, buses, lorries, taxis etc, things with engines. Occasionally cyclists will use them, though the number of cyclists is very low compared with the rest. Pedestrians don't really use them, they use pavements but will also have to cross these roads from time to time.
So, given the frequency of what uses roads the most, shouldn't they be geared to making sure traffic moves smoothly and safely?
Roads are unsafe places. If I got run over I'd have either been run over by a lunatic who wasn't driving properly, or I'd have made a huge error of judgement. In 45 years I haven't been run over. Virtually all of my friends have never been run over, either. I reckon most people who are run over by a car have only themselves to blame, unless there's obvious fault on the side of the driver. The closest I ever got to running someone over was in Tonypandy - a guy walked out almost straight in front of me looking at his phone, oblivious of anything. If I'd have knocked him over I would have felt absolutely awful, but it would never have been my fault. Years ago my dad ran over a pedestrian on a motorway - he was suicidal and did it to end his life; there was never any blame attached to my dad, but he had to attend inquests and all sorts. Horrible for him and he considered quitting a career he'd spent his life doing and was really good at.
I have yet to hear from anyone that they object to 20mph limits in side streets, where there are schools and so on. At the moment we have lots of 20mph sections of road where there's no logical reason to do so. Main roads need to move traffic onwards. People have to get somewhere. Sadly the way things work in the UK means that people often have less time to do things than ever before.
Education is far better than ever before. Youngsters know the dangers of roads better than in my generation. Casualties, deaths etc on roads keep falling year by year.
As I was driving I was aware of the possibility of a pedestrian walking from between the cars and reduced my speed to less than 15mph. Halfway up the street a small child, aged about 5 or 6 years old, stepped out from a gap between two parked cars. When the child was between the cars he was not observable from my position, but when he stepped out he was less than than 6 metres in front of me. I was able to react and apply the brakes but was still moving when I struck him. Fortunately was speed was very low at impact and the child was knocked to the floor but immediately got up and ran away.
There were people around at the time and they were able to give me his address. I went to his home and informed his mother of the events. She was not particularly concerned and appeared to be more interested in having drinks with her mates.
I went to the police station and reported the incident. I did this as otherwise it would have been classed as a hit and run. They took my statement, breathalysed me and checked my driving and car documents.
If I had been driving at the legal speed limit of 30 mph I would not have been able to react or reduce my speed effectively. This would have killed that child and I would had to carry that burden for the rest of my life. Fortunately I had the awareness of the danger at the time and adjusted my driving to match the conditions, many other drivers would had not done so. The 20mph limit gives the driver more reaction time and a shorter stopping distance. I would rather be a few late than carry the responsibility of someone's death or serious injury.
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Re: 20mph online petition
Originally posted by 79blue View PostThirty years ago I was driving towards Blackwood High Street on Bridge street, travelling from the direction of the rugby club. This road is used as a shortcut between Blackwood and Oakdale or Pontllanfraith. This street has cars parked on either side of the street and was a 30mph road.
As I was driving I was aware of the possibility of a pedestrian walking from between the cars and reduced my speed to less than 15mph. Halfway up the street a small child, aged about 5 or 6 years old, stepped out from a gap between two parked cars. When the child was between the cars he was not observable from my position, but when he stepped out he was less than than 6 metres in front of me. I was able to react and apply the brakes but was still moving when I struck him. Fortunately was speed was very low at impact and the child was knocked to the floor but immediately got up and ran away.
There were people around at the time and they were able to give me his address. I went to his home and informed his mother of the events. She was not particularly concerned and appeared to be more interested in having drinks with her mates.
I went to the police station and reported the incident. I did this as otherwise it would have been classed as a hit and run. They took my statement, breathalysed me and checked my driving and car documents.
If I had been driving at the legal speed limit of 30 mph I would not have been able to react or reduce my speed effectively. This would have killed that child and I would had to carry that burden for the rest of my life. Fortunately I had the awareness of the danger at the time and adjusted my driving to match the conditions, many other drivers would had not done so. The 20mph limit gives the driver more reaction time and a shorter stopping distance. I would rather be a few late than carry the responsibility of someone's death or serious injury.
The 30 mph speed limit is not a target speed , and I think most drivers would not even attempt to attain the maximum speed in the same situation, especially in residential areas like the one you have described.
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Re: 20mph online petition
I have attended many fatal or life changing road traffic collisions in similar type situations during my career as a paramedic. You appear to make the assumption that people act with common sense when behind the wheel. 32 years of dealing with RTC’s has shown me this is not the case.Originally posted by TWGL1 View PostThe 30 mph speed limit is not a target speed , and I think most drivers would not even attempt to attain the maximum speed in the same situation, especially in residential areas like the one you have described.
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Re: 20mph online petition
Judging by the placards it was the extreme nutjobs from the internet who think the earth is flat rather than any sort of protest against the speed limit change.Originally posted by Hilts View PostThere was a March in Cardiff today. Apparently 200 turned up.
Really needed it to be in the 1000s.
For some bizarre reason they were outside the museum.
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Re: 20mph online petition
It's not as bad as people are making out.Originally posted by Hilts View PostMade an 80 mile Journey today.
I reckon the 20mph limit added seconds to my overall Journey not even minutes. One of the roads coming out of RCT I was surprised to see still at 30. If your not happy lobby the council.
I travelled from Caerphilly to Newport on Thursday and expected most of roads to be 20 through BTM but they were the old speed. The only part that did have a reduction was around Bassaleg Comp which makes sense.
My commute has also been extended by a few second. The volume of traffic at some of the junctions is still by far causing the biggest holdups.
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Re: 20mph online petition
Just to add to that - I drove from my home, near Merthyr town centre, to the game on Tuesday. In a distance of 25 miles, the only new 20 mph zone that I encountered was the stretch of road between the town centre and the roundabout just before the old Hoover factory. Again, just seconds rather than minutes might have been added to my journey.Originally posted by PontBlue View PostIt's not as bad as people are making out.
I travelled from Caerphilly to Newport on Thursday and expected most of roads to be 20 through BTM but they were the old speed. The only part that did have a reduction was around Bassaleg Comp which makes sense.
My commute has also been extended by a few second. The volume of traffic at some of the junctions is still by far causing the biggest holdups.
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Re: 20mph online petition
You state that the speed limit is not a target speed but I disagree. The majority of people will drive at the limit or just above it especially on 30 mph roads. Many drivers will accuse other drivers of being Sunday drivers if they drive below the limit, as shown by some posters on this topic having a go at drivers going below 20.Originally posted by TWGL1 View PostThe 30 mph speed limit is not a target speed , and I think most drivers would not even attempt to attain the maximum speed in the same situation, especially in residential areas like the one you have described.
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Re: 20mph online petition
It is “up to “ according to the speed awareness course that a friend attended last yearOriginally posted by 79blue View PostYou state that the speed limit is not a target speed but I disagree. The majority of people will drive at the limit or just above it especially on 30 mph roads. Many drivers will accuse other drivers of being Sunday drivers if they drive below the limit, as shown by some posters on this topic having a go at drivers going below 20.
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Re: 20mph online petition
The speed limit driving over the Rhygos is 40 mph and that’s the speed I stay at. Even though it’s about six in the morning when I make my journey, I get overtaken by four or fives cars every time even though I’m close to breaking the speed limit myself. Unbelievably, I was overtaken while driving 20 mph in a 20 mph zone which had a speed camera last Monday.
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